By Danni Roberts
Melbourne’s buzzing arts sector is set to get a $7.5 million revamp, as a neglected Collingwood building will be transformed into a creative hub.
Last month the state government announced another $3 million funding for the Collingwood Arts Precinct for its completion in 2018. Another $4.5 million is also being funded by private donors.
The former Collingwood Technical School on Johnston Street had been forgotten for 10 years but will soon host galleries, performance spaces, studios and offices for artists at below market rates.
The site opened its doors to the public last month as part of Melbourne Open House, where art lovers got a sneak peak at the refurbishments.
Marcus Westbury is the man overseeing the project and said he wants to support emerging to mid-career artists.
“This project will be creating an extraordinary new cultural asset in the heart of Collingwood, offering secure, affordable tenancies and innovative programs to incubate, support and showcase artists.”
Melbourne is already well known for its creative sector. Studying a Master of Fine Arts and Writing for Performance at Victorian College of the Arts, Samsara Dunston believes that Melbourne is the place to be if you work in the creative industry.
“There’s no other city in Australia where I could do what I actually want to do, at the level I want to do it,” she said.
In 2015, Melbourne’s arts and recreations industry provided 23,362 jobs across 600 establishments. With the industry contributing around $715 million in Gross Local Product to the City of Melbourne economy, the Collingwood Arts Precinct is one of the many ways the government hopes to keep the industry thriving.
In April this year, Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley launched Creative State, a $115 million investment to grow Melbourne’s creative talent.
“This investment will create jobs and deliver economic, social and cultural dividends to our state, benefitting all Victorians,” he said.
The strategy includes 40 funded initiatives aimed to create new jobs and opportunities within the sector, and will provide $16.4 million to the state’s design industry and $14.2 million for the screen sector.
Yarra City Council on Twitter: “We are thrilled with @MartinFoleyMP’s announcement of a new Contemporary Arts Precinct for #Collingwood: https://t.co/55SbpqJkeq / Twitter”
We are thrilled with @MartinFoleyMP’s announcement of a new Contemporary Arts Precinct for #Collingwood: https://t.co/55SbpqJkeq
The Collingwood Arts Precinct is currently looking at expressions of interest for potential tenants.
